Saara Elisa Niemi née Tuominen (born 1 January 1986) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and former player. She has served as head coach of IFK Helsinki in the Auroraliiga since 2018, and as an assistant coach to the Finnish national team since 2021. At the 2006 Torino Olympics, Tuominen competed for Finland. scoring one goal and four assists.[1] She was an alternate captain for Finland's women's ice hockey team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver where the Finns won the bronze medal.
| Saara Niemi | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Niemi with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 2010 | |||
| Born |
1 January 1986 Ylöjärvi, Finland | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb; 10 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | |||
| Current coach |
IFK Helsinki Finland | ||
| Coached for |
Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays Red Wings Helsinki | ||
| National team |
Finland | ||
| Playing career | 2004–2019 | ||
| Coaching career | 2015–present | ||
She graduated in 2010 from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) and was a two-year captain of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, the NCAA Division I national champions in 2008 and 2010. She was a 2009 and 2010 WCHA All-Academic Team member, a 2008 All-WCHA Third Team selection and a member of the 2007 All-WCHA Rookie Team.
Playing career
editAfter graduation, she joined the Minnesota Whitecaps for their 2010–11 season. On 8 October, against former WCHA rival Minnesota Golden Gophers, Tuominen scored a goal.[2] The following day, against former WCHA rival St. Cloud State, she scored a goal.[3]
Career statistics
edit| Event | Goals | Assists | Points | Shots | PIM | /- |
| 2010 Winter Olympics | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | −3 |
Awards and honors
editGallery
edit-
Saara Tuominen takes a face-off during a game against the University of New Hampshire at the DECC arena in Duluth, MN on Saturday, 13 March 2010. -
Saara Tuominen in a game against the University of New Hampshire at the DECC arena in Duluth, MN on Saturday, 13 March 2010. -
Saara Tuominen in a game against the University of Wisconsin Badgers at the DECC arena in Duluth, MN on Sunday, 17 January 2010.
References
edit- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Saara Tuominen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38867&SPID=3323&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=205008977 [dead link]
- ^ "Welcome to". Collegehockeystats.net. 12 February 2005. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Women's Preliminary Round - Group B - Game 4 - Finland". Vancouver2010.com. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Women's Preliminary Round - Group B - Game 8 - Finland". Vancouver2010.com. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Women's Preliminary Round - Group B - Game 11 - Finland". Vancouver2010.com. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Women's Play-offs Semifinals - Game 17 - Finland". Vancouver2010.com. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Women's Bronze Medal Game - Game 19 - Finland". Vancouver2010.com. The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Memorable Moments". Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Athletics. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (15 March 2021). "Naisten Liigan parhaan valmentajan palkinto Saara Niemelle". leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Mennander, Pasi (10 June 2023). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2022–23 palkitut pelaajat, valmentajat ja tuomarit". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 12 June 2023.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com
- Saara Niemi at Olympics.com
- Saara Niemi at Olympedia (archive)
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